Chapter 56

# 56

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That's how Nabiya suddenly became Esselred's barber.

Margaret, returning to Nabiya's bedroom, clicked her tongue as she read the last letter Lark had sent.

"Really, it's an unbelievably childish and petty trick."

Her assessment of her lord was harsh, but it was justified.

"Moreover, a barber. The reason for assigning a job where you don't get paid unless you cut hair is obvious."

Nabiya couldn't enter the third floor. And now, a barber?

'If there's no need to cut the Duke's hair, there's no way for me to earn money.'

Barbers not only cut hair but also shaved.

It was a job where you could earn tips, but Nabiya had no way to do anything.

Nabiya needed money, and that's why she protested to Lark, but she received a reply telling her not to cause trouble if she didn't know how to do it, and she accepted it.

'There's nothing I can do,' she thought.

"I can't do it."

Margaret suddenly said she couldn't do it. Nabiya blinked.

Her expression clearly asked, 'What can't you do?'

Margaret explained.

"I'm going to prepare to cut hair right in front of everyone. I'll say that Nabiya is eagerly waiting and that his conscience should be pricked."

Nabiya looked startled.

What if Margaret makes a scene and someone hears her?

"No, Lady Margaret. Don't do that. I'm fine."

"The lord should pay the price for tormenting a child's hope."

When Margaret shook her head and spoke firmly, Minerva, who had been quietly standing by, agreed.

"Y-Yes, that's right."

So, Margaret and Minerva set up a barber's space in the room next to Nabiya's, as if they were staging a protest.

Nabiya followed them with a troubled expression, trying to dissuade them.

"There's no need to go this far. I'm really fine."

"Look, we have scissors, combs, and hair irons. Everything is here. Oh my, we could really open a shop like this."

"Here, we even have a cloth to lay on the floor and a gown to wear...!"

They placed a cloth and a stool in the center of the empty room and brought a full-length mirror.

Next to it, they placed a low cabinet that came up to Nabiya's waist.

On top of the cabinet, scissors and combs were neatly arranged. They also placed a lamp and a small pot nearby.

The completed setup looked like...

'Just a children's playroom.'

It was no different from a place where children play barber shop.

"It's done!"

"It's amazing...!"

But Margaret and Minerva clapped and cheered, delighted with their creation.

'Hmm.'

Nabiya reluctantly clapped her hands.

Then, Minerva pulled something out of her bag.

"This is something I made. I thought you might need it... in case of blood...?"

It was a child-sized bonnet and apron.

"Wow, Minerva made these?"

Nabiya marveled at the black bonnet and the cute black apron with pleats.

'Her handiwork is really amazing.'

Minerva scratched her nose, embarrassed.

"Well, originally they were both yellow, but I forgot and left them outside, and they turned black..."

"Huh? Turned black?"

When Nabiya tilted her head in confusion, Margaret explained.

"Ah, in the mansion, inanimate objects that are not made of glass, transparent gems, silver, or gold turn black after a certain period. But if you store clothes in the golden wardrobe, they don't turn black."

Is there such a phenomenon in the world?

'Ah, that's why my room has a golden wardrobe.'

Nabiya's mouth dropped open at the fairy-tale-like phenomenon.

'Now that I think about it, everything here is black.'

"What a mysterious phenomenon."

Nabiya's simple admiration made Margaret laugh.

Usually, people would think it was ominous or a curse.

'Children would generally be more scared. Some might find it interesting, though.'

But almost no one reacted as calmly as Nabiya.

Nabiya, wearing the bonnet and apron, didn't seem to think much about the blackened mansion.

She guessed it was a magical phenomenon.

And she wasn't the type to be scared by fanciful notions like curses, especially since people lived inside.

Nabiya put on the black apron over her white nightgown. Margaret adjusted the bonnet to complement Nabiya's hairstyle.

Nabiya tilted her head.

'But why do I need a bonnet for cutting hair...?'

Was it just part of the set with the apron?

Nabiya accepted it at that.

After she finished dressing up, Margaret cupped her cheeks and sighed.

"Oh, how cute!"

Minerva, seeing Nabiya perfectly wearing the clothes she made, clasped her hands and her eyes sparkled.

"You are the most perfect model in the world..."

She was so overwhelmed that she couldn't even stutter.

"Hmm? Everyone was here?"

At that moment,

"I came back with dessert and wanted to invite everyone to eat together."

Schleman, who had gone out to buy necessities and then came to see Nabiya's new nightgown, entered with a puzzled expression when he saw everyone gathered in a different room.

"What's all this?"

Margaret immediately told Schleman about Lark's reply while he was away.

"Schleman, Lord Lark ordered Nabiya to be a barber."

"Want to see the letter?"

Schleman, flustered, kept stroking his white beard.

A barber? An eight-year-old girl? Someone who never comes down from the third floor?

"Ah... Lord Lark, well... What do you plan to do?"

Nabiya thought of Lark's long hair.

If he tied it up in a high ponytail, his strong jawline would be prominent, giving him a warrior-like feel. If he tied it halfway, it would look somewhat scholarly, though a bit playful.

But all of this would only be possible if Nabiya, as a real barber, could actually do the job.

Nabiya shrugged.

"I don't know. It would be nice to style the Duke's hair beautifully, but will I get the chance?"

Listening to Nabiya's calm reflection, Margaret quietly bit her lip and finally burst out laughing.

The more she thought about Lark's reply, the more absurd and hilarious it became.

Schleman also sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"Phew."

Margaret, wiping away tears from laughing, said,

"It would be nice to style the lord's hair. He has been growing it for nine years, hasn't he?"

Nabiya realized from Margaret's words that he hadn't always had long hair.

'Nine years of growing hair. He has maintained it for quite a while.'

Nabiya imagined Lark with short hair.

'He looks good with long hair, but short hair would also suit him.'

No matter the hairstyle, his remarkable beauty wouldn't lose its luster.

Nabiya said to Schleman, who was troubled by her new position,

"Positions often come with opportunities for advancement."

That was Nabiya's conclusion after receiving Lark's reply.

"How can you speak so beautifully!"

Nabiya, hearing praise for a simple statement, lowered her gaze.

She couldn't always be modest, but accepting it with gratitude would make her seem shameless.

'Anyway, the important thing is to achieve results.'

Nabiya already had a plan.

'Theodorban manages Esselred's living expenses.'

In the eighth chapter, when Creed appeared, the first thing he did was expose Theodorban's unfair contract and reclaim the rights.

He used the fact that Lark was only eight years old when Theodorban took over the business as evidence of his wrongdoing.

'Of course, it's impossible to reclaim the business just because of that.'

Lark, even after becoming an adult capable of recognizing the unfairness of the contract, did not reverse the decision.

This was a weakness in Creed's argument, but for some reason, Theodorban willingly returned the business.

'There must be some other critical weakness that Theodorban hasn't revealed to the public.'

Finding it on her own would be difficult.

Nabiya had no guardian, no money, and was young.

But there was an organization that could help her.

'I can use an information broker.'

However, to get to an information broker, she would need to borrow a carriage, and Esselred had no resident coachman.

She would need to hire a day laborer from outside to drive the carriage.

Nabiya couldn't shamelessly ask for money. Being fed, housed, and even given a good nightgown was enough.

'Lady Margaret said I could ask for help, but that's a last resort.'

An annoying child is never welcome anywhere.

'How can I earn money...?'

Originally, she planned to receive an activity fee for a suitable position. But a barber? It was hopeless.

While Nabiya was lost in thought, Schleman chuckled at the barber's setup they had prepared.

"Looks like you have everything you need?"

"Of course. This isn't just for fun."

"Since you've gone to all this trouble, why don't you try cutting hair?"

When Schleman said this playfully, Nabiya turned her head.

"Ah, you want me to?"

"......Huh?"